Delaware County Technical Schools

Student Handbook

DESCRIPTION PAGE

Student Conduct Philosophy...... 3

Rights and Responsibilities...... 3

Respecting Members of the School Community...... 6

Why Discipline?...... 6

Offenses...... 6

Discipline and Policy Code of Conduct...... 7

Delaware County Intermediate Unit Smoking Policy...... 18

Drug-Free School and Workplace...... 18

Admininistrative Action...... 19

General Student Regulations...... 19

Out-of-School Suspension...... 22

Absences & Excuses……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………22

Absences/Attendance...... 23

Parent Notification of Attendance Issues………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

Complaint Procedure……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

Sexual Harassment ...... 25

Interrogations and Searches by Staff …...... 26

Guidelines for Discipline of Special Needs Students…………………………………………………………………………………………………….27

Use of Medications...... 28

Safety Regulations...... 30

Fire Drill Procedure...... 31

Grading Procedure...... 32

Internet Access, E-Mail & Network Resources Acceptable Use Policy……………………………… ……………………………….………………32

1

DELAWARE COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL POLICIES

STUDENT CONDUCT PHILOSOPHY

In order for a school to fulfill its primary goal of education, high levels of organization and discipline are necessary. Students are encouraged to assume responsibility for their own behavior. Each student’s rights, and those of the entire school community, who participate in and conduct the instructional program, must be respected.

Discipline, the recognition of one’s responsibilities to function within the school community in a socially acceptable manner, is better when self-imposed. Student should recognize right from wrong and act accordingly.

Realistically, however, while most students possess the maturity to be self-disciplined, some do not. It is therefore the responsibility of the school to develop guidelines in the form of regulations and disciplinary responses to promote student discipline. It is the purpose of these guidelines, then, to delineate rights and responsibilities for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. In applying the code of student conduct, firmness, fairness and consistency are essential. The rights of all members of the school community will be respected.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Students

The rights and responsibilities of each affect interaction patterns between members of the school community. More than a preparation for life, school is an integral part of a young person’s life. As such and as citizens of the school community, students have the right to expect certain actions from others and the responsibility to exhibit certain behavior around others.

At the Delaware County Technical Schools we recognize that students have the right to:

  1. Inquire, question, exchange ideas, and express themselves in a reasonable and mannerly way
  2. Receive due process
  3. Have freedom of associate
  4. Be granted freedom of peaceful assembly and petition
  5. Form and participate in a student government
  6. Be granted freedom from discrimination
  7. Obtain an equal education opportunity

Each of these rights has accompanying responsibilities. The school community can expect students to:

  1. Demonstrate concern for others and respect their opinions
  2. Attend school regularly and to be prompt in attending classes and activities
  3. Maintain habits of personal cleanliness
  4. Respect school property and follow school rules
  5. Make every effort to meet academic standards and challenges
  6. Practice good citizenship and act in ways that enhance the school community
  7. Accept the consequences of their own actions
  1. Parents

As a parent, your participation in your child’s education is important. Listed below are some rights and responsibilities that you have as a parent.

A parent has a right to:

  1. The best education that can be provided for the student
  2. A positive relationship between the school and home
  3. Fair treatment for their child in all manners
  4. Expect that meaningful assignments be given to the student
  5. Communication concerning the student’s progress

A parent has the responsibility to:

  1. Make certain the student attends school regularly, is on time, and has the necessary educational materials
  2. Foster a positive attitude between school and home
  3. Understand and support the school’s rules and foster a sense of self-discipline in the student
  4. Provide a suitable atmosphere, adequate time and help for the student with regard to homework
  5. Attend parent-teacher conferences and initiate dialogue with the school when necessary
  6. Ensure that his/her child is dressed appropriately
  1. Teachers

Each teacher plays a key role in the education of young people. To function properly in this role, certain rights and responsibilities must be enumerated.

A teacher has a right to:

  1. Expect respect from students, parents, and administrators
  2. Expect the support of administrators, parents, and students concerning disciplinary issues
  3. Communicate with parents and administrators when problems arise
  4. Receive materials and supplies needed to provide a quality educational program
  5. Have students complete all assignments and be prepared for class

A teacher has the responsibility to:

  1. Promote an atmosphere of mutual respect with students, parents, and administrators
  2. Support and abide by the school’s disciplinary procedures
  3. Communicate with students, parents, and administrators as the need arises
  4. Utilize and care for materials and supplies
  5. Maintain accurate records of student achievement, progress and attendance
  1. Administrator

In order to bring about positive student behavior, it is important that the Principal has cooperation from the entire school community. Certain rights and responsibilities are inherent in the process.

An Administrator has a right to:

  1. Have students be aware of and obey all school rules and regulations
  2. Have the faculty and staff be aware of and apply the student code of conduct
  3. Have parents be aware of and support the school rules and regulations
  4. Implement necessary regulations at any time

An Administrator has the responsibility to:

  1. Work to develop a sound and healthy atmosphere of mutual respect within the school
  2. Comply with state laws governing hearings, suspension, student rights, and compulsory school attendance laws
  3. Publish, distribute, and review rules and regulations with students at the opening of each school year
  4. Keep accurate records concerning student misconduct and to apply this student code of conduct fairly, firmly and consistently
  1. Executive Director and School Directors

The Executive Director and School Directors, functioning as the leaders of the school district in approving programs of instruction and in funding the total educational experience, have certain rights and responsibilities.

The Executive Director and School Directors have a right to:

  1. Have the resources in education used wisely and judiciously
  2. Have district rules and regulations concerning student conduct applied and enforced

The Executive Director and School Directors have the responsibility to:

  1. Provide materials adequate for a quality educational program
  2. Adopt policies and regulations to support an environment conducive to academic performance and good teaching

Teachers have the responsibility to maintain a suitable environment for learning, and administrators have the responsibility for maintaining and facilitating the educational programs.

Each Administrator is authorized by statute to suspend students for cause. The Technical Schools’ rules and regulations shall be published and reviewed with students at the opening of each school year. Copies will be made available to students and parents/guardian upon request.

Each Administrator shall be responsible for informing parents/guardian and student of school rules and regulations at the opening of the school year.

Teachers have the authority to send a student from a class to an appropriate official for cause, and also have the responsibility to notify parents/guardian of the reason for the action.

Teachers and School Administrators shall administer discipline within the guidelines of the “Regulations and Guidelines of Student Rights and Responsibilities” adopted by the State Board of Education in September, 1974, and other specific policies relating to student behavior and discipline as adopted from time to time by the Board.

The intent of this manual is to provide students with a definition of the limits of acceptable behavior, and to equip School Administrators for their disciplinary responsibilities. The manual shall be interpreted by the Administrators and their designees in a manner, which they deem just, given the circumstances of the individual case. Additionally, students must understand that administrators shall have the authority to enforce other reasonable disciplinary action, which they find warranted by situations not covered in this manual.

The implementation of the Student Discipline Policy rests with all levels of the management/administrative/instructional team and is an area that should be considered in performance evaluation.

RESPECTING MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

A fundamental premise of the Delaware County Technical Schools is that students will show tolerance to all members of the school community. All students have a right to be free of intimidation either by word, gesture, or deed that is sexual, racial, cultural or religious in nature. Students who violate this premise will be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the administration. In concert with the district’s mission that all students will learn to develop and maintain a sense of academic integrity; students will be expected to complete and to submit their own work.

WHY DISCIPLINE?

Discipline should, as a minimum, have three objectives in mind:

  • PRESERVE the optimum environment in which to deliver instructional services;
  • RESPOND to disruptive influences with corrective measures in a firm and consistent manner while attempting to correct deviant behavior and keep disrupters in school; and
  • REMOVE, as a last resort, the disrupters from the educational environment so that the majority may pursue their educational goals.

At present, it is the legal responsibility of the Board to continue to educate each student until age 17, whether in the formal educational setting or outside that environment, in cases of expulsion.

**Pursuant to subsection B of Section 1317.2 of the Pennsylvania School Code Amendment of 1995. A school district of area Vo-Tech school shall expel for a period of not less than one year, any student who is determined to have brought a weapon onto any school property, into any school sponsored activity or onto any public conveyance providing transportation to a school or school sponsored activity.

OFFENSES

The following discipline code is provided to make students, parent/guardians and faculty aware of the disciplinary process. The examples are not all-inclusive but are intended to provide a general idea of the seriousness of particular infractions and the levels of response that can be expected. The actual response to a particular incident will be determined by the specific situation in which the incident occurred.

Note: Any student(s) subjected to disciplinary action that involves removal from the normal classroom environment is still required to demonstrate mastery of all subject matter for advancement to the next grade level.

It is the responsibility of the students subjected to such disciplinary action to ensure that they remain current with the course subject matter and arrange with the Administration for the taking of any examinations missed due to absence from school.

DISCIPLINE & POLICY CODE OF CONDUCT

*All parts of this policy refer to activities on school property or activities sponsored by the school.

Offense

/

Explanation

/

Level

/

Action Required

/ Action Optional
Arson / Deliberately, or through negligent action, lighting or causing a fire to be lit in school, on school property or on the school bus. / Administration / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / 3rd Offense / Referral for counseling, social service agencies
10 days suspension, notification of police, parent / guardian conference, restitution. (if deliberate, recommendation for removal from technical schools) / 10 days suspension, PLUS 1st offense consequences, recommendation for removal from technical schools
Assault / An unlawful physical attack on another person. The attack may or may not cause injury;including spitting on a person. / Administration / 3-10 day suspension, parent / guardian conference. Notification of Police. Possible removal from technical schools. / 5 to 10 days suspension, PLUS 1st offense consequences, recommendation for removal from technical schools. / Counseling for anger management,
Restitution for medical expenses.
Referral to SAP
If school personnel is assaulted, immediate 10-day suspension, recommendation for removal on the 1st offense
Attendance/ Excessive
Absences / Not attending school. / Teachers/
Administration / Follow current attendance policy and guidelines / Referral for counseling
Restitution

Offense

/

Explanation

/

Level

/

Action Required

/ Action Optional
Bomb Threat / Claiming either in person, by telephone, writing or any other mode of communication that a bomb, or other explosive device, is, or will be placed in or around the school, school bus, school property. / Teacher/
Administration / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / 3rd Offense / Referral for counseling Restitution
10 days suspension, parent / guardian conference, notification of police, recommendation for removal from technical schools
Cheating / Plagiarism / Using another’s work as ones own either with or without the assent of the second person, downloading info from computer and representing it as one’s own work. / Teacher/
Administration / For all offenses – assign zero or no credit to work in question for cheater and person who voluntarily shares work.
Computer/Electronic misuse / Inappropriate altering of computer software or hardware and/or using the computer to generate or access inappropriate material. / Staff, Administration / Consequences – See Statement of Internet Access, E-Mail & Network Resources Acceptable Use Policy
Warning – detention, and / or 1 to 5 days
Suspension. Removal from computer use for 1 to 5 days.Written non-computer assignment given. / Restitution, Referral to SAP
Controlled Substances, Drug paraphernalia / Possession, consumption, under the influence of, sale or supplying illegal drugs, any prescription drug (except for those for which permission to use in school has been granted or prescribed by a registered physician for that individual’s use), all look alike drugs, inhalants and alcohol. Paraphernalia means any equipment or device that can be used to take, inject, inhale or otherwise Contain, hold or introduce drugs into the body.
Possession means on the person, in a locker or in a motor vehicle on school property / Administration / 5 to 10 days suspension parent / guardian conference, notification of police, referral to SAP. / 10 days suspension, recommendation for removal from technical schools. / Referral for outside counseling, Referral to community service agency,
Referral for drug testing
For sale or supplying, 10 day suspension with recommendation for removal from technical schools

Offense

/

Explanation

/

Level

/

Action Required

/ Action Optional
Cutting Class/ Leaving the assigned area / Students must have a pass or prior written approval from sending and receiving staff for arrangements to miss any portion of an assigned class to attend another class during that time. / Staff (submit written report to administrative staff for each incident), Administration / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / 3rd Offense / Referral to SAP
1 day detention / 2 days suspension, conference with student and parent / guardian, removal of driving privileges. / 5 days suspension plus recommend removal from technical schools.
Disruptive Behavior / Behavior that produces distractions, friction or disturbances that interfere with the normal functioning of the teacher, the students, the class or the school; to cause disorder or turmoil / Staff (submit written report to administrative staff for each incident), Administration / Warning / 1 day detention and teacher contact parent, conference with student / 2 days detention, conference with student and parent / guardian / Referral for outside counseling, Referral to community agency.
Notification and assistance of Police if necessary.
4th offense – 1 day suspension and 2 days
detention.
5th offense – 5 days suspension,
6th offense – 10 days suspension, or recommend removal from technical schools.
Disobedience and/or Defiance; and/or Insubordination / Refusal by a student to comply with a directive given by school personnel / Staff (submit written report to administrative staff for each incident) / 1 day detention to 1 day suspension. / 2 days detention or 1 to 3 days suspension. / 1 to 5 days suspension, parent / teacher conference. / Referral for outside counseling, Referral to community agency
4th offense – 3 days suspension to 10 days suspension, recommend removal from technical schools.
Failure to comply with a directive given by an administrator will result in an immediate removal of the student from the school and
Up to 10 days suspension and recommend removal from the technical school.

Offense

/

Explanation

/

Level

/

Action Required

/ Action Optional
Driving/motor vehicle / Driving or riding to and from the technical schools in a private vehicle (unless dropped of by a third party) is a privilege that requires written permission from the building administrator – principal. Additional information and procedures about this are detailed in the student handbook. / Administration / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / 3rd Offense / Notification of Police
Suspension of driving privileges / 1 day detention and suspension of driving privileges. / 1 day suspension and suspension of driving privileges.
Depending on the severity of the offense, actions range from warning to denial of driving/riding privileges and or towing of the vehicle, plus implementation of behavioral support,
Notification of parent / guardian. Driving privileges for school year. Refer to policy statement in Student Handbook
Electronic Devices, Sound Reproduction Devices
(If a student is an EMT/Firefighter, it should be registered in the office.) / Any electronic device such as a radio, tape player, CD player, electronic game, beeper, pager, CB radio, cellular phone, other communication device or musical instrument is prohibited. / Staff, Administration / Warning, confiscation of device for remainder of day / Confiscation of device, parent / guardian conference, return device to parent / guardian. / Confiscate devise for remainder of school year, parent / guardian conference.
*Students who refuse to relinquish device will be referred to defiance consequences.
Explosive Devices, fireworks / Possession or discharge of explosive devices, inflammatory objects, fireworks and/or any other such object or device / Administration / Depending on the nature of the object or device, 3 to 10 days suspension, parent / guardian conference, possible notification of police, possible recommendation for removal from technical schools. / 10 day suspension, PLUS 1st offense consequences, notification of police, recommendation for removal from technical schools.

Offense

/

Explanation